Hawera Industrial Exhibition.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 31, 6 February 1904, Page 4

Hawera Industrial Exhibition.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. flly Our Special Hepoiler.) The industrial exhibition opened in Hawera on Wednesday still continue to attract large attendances daily. The crowd was such on the first day that it was almost impossible to obtain more than a cursory glance ovei the exhibits, and live second iiay saw many of Wednesday's visitors again present leisurely marking off the catalogue. Everywhere i-.o'ul'd be heard remarks appreciative of the display ami complimentary to tl'.e management committee. The executive must have expended a large >um in buildings, the main entranceami the long art ami commercial avenue being temporary, though fairly suihsantial structures. Added to these are the side buildings in which the engines ami machinery are placed on view. "Mr W. Howe's large send store had been transformed, and now contains live long stands of commercial exhibits intersected s>y passages here and there. The exlvibitioii itself must be counted a givat succes-.-,, more especially from a commercial point of view. More attention has been paid to advertising display than to competition Icy individuals, and the elTorU of I'he various (inns to attract public notice has been the means o! producing some displays worthy of inuch m<ore important exhibitions. THE AKT SECTION. The entrance brings the visitor directly into the mid.4t of a great art gallery. Pictures, large and .•small, in oils, water coloiurs and black and white, photographs, and tapestry, and works of art of all descriptions claim attention. The work of the juitiges in the art section must have been exceedingly diflicult, the paintings lK*ing of givat merit, whilst the value set upon some work of the olid masters is in the region of £-800 for each {picture. This art gallery is one of the great features of the exhibition. The amateur oil 1 painting which secures the admira-1 tion of all is Mr George Sheriff's (Wangainui) canvas, depicting "Alter the Storm: Kaikoura Coast," which is perhaps the host seascape ever seen in this district. Passing on, Rev. A. M. Bradbury's small pictures catch the eye, and another "Early Autiunnj," by Mr Sheriff, of Wanganui, securing second honours for copies in oils. Mrs J. J. Patterson, of Matiaia, secured the diploma for oil painting from nature with "A Study of New Zealand Still Life," an Eltham art-ist, Mr W. J. Belcher, •>eir.g second with his "Hoses." B. • .loyd, of Elthain, gained a diploma .or copies in oils, Miss Header's Stratfoid) exhibits "Group of i-Yuit" and a laiiKlscaj>e also securing iwards. It is impossible to give a description of the hundiVds of beautiful works of art shown, including some of the most glorious scenery •ver transferred to colonial canvas. In photography, Mr McAllister's whibit "The Smithy" secures first 'vanours, whilst Mr F. J. Denton's Wanganui) study of "Curiosity," depicting a wee mite busily engaged in threading a needle, is lirj-t in its .'lass. The soft tones in this photograph were undoubtedly its winning quality. In this section, general professional work, Mr W. A. Collis .■showed a fine figure study. Ju landscapes Mr J. McAllister's (Stratford) photo enlargements of ilount Egmont were adjudged tJhc best. Among the amateurs, E. Smith, of Cardiff, and 11. V. S. (i ligure among the-winners, in spite of the last-named exlwbitor's work being wrongly classed in a couple of instances.

SCHOOL WORK. School work was distinctly disappointing, and very mediocre handwriting and various grotesque putty or plasticine figures predominated. Cut arjtl folded paper provided some neat exhibits, but the remark of one old gentleman that the "Youngsters would be better employed 111 learning how to talk and write properly and add a column of figures- smartly and correctly, than in dabbling with putty for all Cnc world like babies in a mud puddle," expressed the vliews of more than one spectator. "File essays, however, were good. From this- end of the district the successful pupils were Kate Kulinski, of ltatapiko school, and William Cartwright, Lepperton School, for handwriting ; Allan (!. Gibson, Rntapiko. for an essay on "The Life of i Cricket Bat," CARVING AND MODELS. The carving exhibited was generally disappointing in quantity, and only fair in quality, to quote the remarks oi Mr Andrews, one of the judge-;. Messrs W. I{. Header and I''. Everiss, both of Stratford, were prize-winners. Amongst tile models was one by Mr W. Bunks, an inmate of the Old Men's Home at New Plymouth. 1 lowmany tours of patient work were occupied in making, colouring, and framing Ivis miniature America Cup race is only known to himself. The ex-h'.bit was much admiral. COMMERCIAL. Passing on to the commercial section the first exhibits which force themselves on the v isitor's notice are the joinery displays by Mr tl. Syme and Messrs Twigg and Co., of Hawera. These comprise mantelpieces unid overmantels, doors, sideboard, and turnery—a magnificent exhibit! which the judge considered equal to any woodwork ever shown in the colony, and well worthy of being sent to any exhibition in the world. Great dilliculty was experienced in deciding betwven th.o two exhibits, Mr .fames Bellringer, of Stratford and New Plymouth, takes the first diplomas for grained panels im'd specimens of sign-writing. As the visitor proceeds along the various avenues he is regaled with l.'honognaplnc selections b.v instruments ii, all directions—music from raliibitors of pianos, organs painolos and other inwlrunientshe while he is almost distracted by "'"stunt blandishments and arguments of the salesmen who will engrave his name "for one shilling, and a bemfful broi,dd hank': 1 lree 01 charge," or wilf"provide the possessor 01 the nimble sixpence with "very latest iKWelty from the words n.arkets, sir," and the hundred and one otl:er things that one expects to find, and nearly always 1"!' H '»» in 0,1 occasions such as this Here is one man who can sen medals as mementoes of the exhibition ; there another whose timkets and jewellery are the cheaiiZ,!I V IT kntn ™ WorW •• '"»<• "l'l'osite is the persistent gentleman wiio warmly ejaculates, -There ver ' when there's a good thing chucked iii • el Wtt J'it, and goes 011 t.u another plafr-e. where veil'll 'bu •swin-dlwi, and ver th>si»rw«* ii ♦ dos«iv't lie, sir unwary passer-by, a.„d immediate* t he vendor has succeeded in thus arresting attention, there commences tile usual harangue, extolling the virtues ol some nostrum which possesses all the qualities necessary for any invent ion. A smile of ainuse'""nt, jwhaps satisfaction,' from the lectured sp-ectators, perhaps the sale oi a box or two of the astounding preparation, and we pass on to the move solid exhibits. Builders note with interest the splendid concrete work made with I orthvral cement from Messrs Wilson and Co.'s works near Auckland • firemen mid others are found discussing the modern fire-fighting appliance* shown placed 011 view • farmers gather round amid discuss t-ho agricultural machinery ami dairying utensils and appliances winch take up a largo > amount of

space ; and the musically inclined hover around the large -displays of musiieal instrumuivts by tlie Dresden Piano Co., Colonel Piano Importing Co., uii'd Dixon and BaU-.s. Hon- a knot of people discuss ihc ironsamd £|ii<cs't ion, and adjourn to Air E. M. Smith's collection', whilst tlve ladit*s find ample .'-cope lor longings in the splen(i'kl'ly tilud fireplaces and cooking rainges displayud. Just along the way a short-lighted gentlommi apologises I'oi 1 nearly running down an inimaculaLely dressed individual, and the neighbouring people .smile—it'* only a handsome wax ligure in the exhibit oi ready-made clothing by a city firm.

Colonial industries are represented by elaborate displays. Mes.srs Arch. Clarke a'liid Souk, Auckland and New I'ly mouth, exhibit New Zealand made hats, white whins and collars, and other wholesale houses, notably Messrs Koss and Gleii'dinniivg, Wellington flat .Mills Co., have similar sihioAVw. A striking display of soaps is made by Messrs Gilbert! anil Son, Wa.'ngamrj, who also place on view a large assortment of colonial bvushwarc. TU- New Ztwlaml Cundle Co., of Wellington, give a slight idea of the importance and growth of the candle industry in Wellington. An industry more particularly connected witji this district, and in wJiich local /inns secure first, honours, is bhe bacon industry, Stratford securing first honours and llawera second. Jn neither case was any great toiste tvhiown in the arrangement of the produce, though quality was excellent. jlfr Duistin, of Wanganui, showed something very tasty in the way oi confectionery, and the H«uthern Cross biscuits and confectionery also attracted considerable notice The samples of jellies made from the Jirm's jelly poudcrs very quickly djsapjx?arcd, and were evidently appreciated. A disappointing feature was the dairy section. Here, in Taranaki, the Premier's "dairv of New ZealunU," only the Ngaire Factory sent ojt exhibit ol cheese. One would have thought that such exhibits would have been made a specialty, and that -due provision would have been made for them. Some line specimens of plumbing work were shown b.\ the New Plymouth, Wanganui and I Auckland Teohjiieal Schools, and by Messrs Smart Bros.' The best japanned tinware was sent in by Mr 1 D. U. ,J ones, of Elthain, and was ' splendid work indeed, DAIH\ MACHINIOJtV AND APPLIANCES. The larges-t exhibit of daily" machinery aiivd appliances was made by Mr Newton King, of New Plymouth represented by Mr Kimmins/oi Mesl sirs Lis'ter and Son's staff. The principal leature was the new Imperial separator, strongly built, and capable ot treating ill) fc , alloi]H Pe) . hour wTt.li j h.p. motor. Tin- skiinn»vng results were excellent, and the ■rm-lum. is built with the one idea of.sa\mg aller-mst. Alexandra hand separators, turbines, coolers, pU i,ms '..fctcunHMK, u-sim-s . lmi „„ tsHwat : 's «, t . .>)•««„. ami thin dairying t.xliiLil is t'lif there. Wootk-n churns, I,utter - workers m Vi' n U ' "n" hy llu ' Jhlwo, ' a | ' ll0 " ,- 1 C "- *nd Crown se,nuaV a " c, W"'»s by tlie \ew Zealand Loan Hind Mt'ivnalilo Agom-y C'o llessis Smart tiros, have a large ■space occu,|,k.,l by a,, ex | tii)il ii 11.vi ut'.Mis.ls, .and ,S|i«unens< ol plumlyiivg, some of which was ei(ual -to the Iwst. Another " home industry was the heap of Whaiiaamouioim coal ami Imrnt papa, conS'truvj hy a Hawera printer's error mto burnt "pa|>er." Messrs James and Co. s tannery exhibit was geneially admired.

There were hundreds of other ii.ems that, were noticeable, hi facl t ■•Jo" the exhibition properlv liuu kiug oil tin- catalogue as the various objects are noted, w ou i tl n , ean a jjerJoniwiiKe of some days. J'lie exhibition j s opCin ( , Vorv 7om M"!'.. 1 " s ' 3 ° IMU - iUBd '"»» •P.m. to 10 p.m. As an industrial a»Jd educational lac-tor the exhibition is well worth going- to see, and we must sincerely congratulate the executive and the people of Hawer a on its suet-ess so far.